Luis Enrique watched his Barcelona side suffer a second league defeat in seven days, losing 1-0 at the hands of Celta Vigo at the Nou Camp on Saturday, and promptly described himself to be ‘angry’ at recent performances.
Barcelona visit Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday night looking to get back on track and Enrique suggested it will be ‘open season’ for criticism of his team in the build up to that clash.
Saturday’s home reverse was a second defeat for forward Luis Suarez in Barcelona colours and the Uruguayan squandered some decent scoring chances.
Barcelona now find themselves two points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid but Enrique is refusing to panic just yet.
“I would be (worried) if the players showed a different attitude but that wasn’t the case. What I am is angry, like the rest of the dressing room,” he told a press conference.
Any slip up in Amsterdam could see Barcelona surrender their chances of topping Group F with Paris St Germain already a point clear of them on seven thanks to their 3-2 victory over the Blaugrana in the French capital at the end of September.
Ajax are third on two points with APOEL bottom with one. Barcelona need a win on Wednesday to at least maintain pace with PSG who host the Cypriots.
After the latest domestic setback, Enrique is prepared for a barrage of criticism but wants his players focusing only on Ajax.
“Now we can expect a nice week when it will be open season but our responsibility is to prepare the next match,” he added.
Barcelona are still priced as 1.34 favourites to defeat Ajax, with the Dutch champions on offer at 7.83 with the draw at 5.10.
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